Huskey: Striving for excellence

We certainly try to teach our children to, so why shouldnít we. No matter your age or occupation, you can always strive to be better.

And there is a good chunk of the population in Norristown doing just that.

Unfortunately, a few bad apples are spoiling the whole bunch, at least in the eyes of people who live outside the county seat, and in the eyes of people who live and work in the county seat.

With the recent rash of violence gripping Norristown we have been pushing council to take a stand. We brought them in for a roundtable discussion and talked about ways to combat crime. It was a good conversation and weíre looking forward to holding more roundtable discussions. For the next one Iíll ask for questions from you and your neighbors. And, as Iíve been harping all along, it doesnít matter if you live in Norristown. The county seat is a reflection on the entire county, and the economic troubles and the social ills are shared by all.

Since the beginning of the New Year weíve published a number of short stories, briefs and listings about groups doing the right thing in the wake of the violence, but something more has to be done.

Letís face it; the groups doing the right thing are not the people we need to reach.

Itís the 25-year-old mother or father, or both, sitting on the couch playing video games while their 10 year old child is left to their own devices, that needs to hear about what productive members of society do day in and day out to make their own way in the world, and to make their own corner of the world a better place to live.

We published a story in yesterdayís paper about a group of young men who are doing just that.

The Norristown Men of Excellence is a group of Norristown residents who believe giving back to the community is simply the right thing to do. They believe this way because thatís how they were raised, seeing adults giving back to the community.

These are the role models we need some individual residents of Norristown to see, most notably the parents who arenít being parents, who arenít being role models for their kids, or even exposing the kids to role models.

This is a group that is placing a special emphasis on working with youngsters and providing support needed to keep them on the right track. Theyíve held several events just for young people, including a football camp and presentations that show how to conduct yourself in an interview and basic life skills.

These are young men who are doing the right thing just for the sake of doing the right thing.

I could revisit all the names of the members of the Norristown Men of Excellence, and all of the names of the men they cited as being role models for them, but I think that would just be cheating the story. Iíd rather you go back to yesterdayís paper and read the story on the front of the Living section, or, if youíve already put the paper in the recycle bin, go online and read the story there.

But, therein lies the rub once again, doesnít it?

Iíd donít think the people reading my column are the people that need the kick in the pants.

So, how do we get the word out?

How do we get the word out about the Norristown Men of Excellence and all the other organizations doing the right thing because itís the right thing to do?

More importantly, how do we get the word out about these groups to the young parents who need to hear it most, and perhaps need a good shaking to wake them up at the same time?

Iíd personally print out about a 1,000 copies of the story if we can find a group to pass them out to the right people. I could walk up and down the streets placing them behind screen doors, but Iíd probably get a citation for littering. What Iíd really like to see is about a thousand volunteers holding the story up in front of those who need to see it most while jabbing a finger into the page and telling them they need to read every word.

Now that would be excellent. After all, isnít a better Norristown something we should all strive for?

Stan Huskey is the editor of The Times Herald. He can be reached at 610-272-2500 ext. 215 or at shuskey@timesherald.com. Follow @StanHuskey on Twitter.